HSN finalizes deal for more parking space

Health Sciences North has finalized a deal with the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club to purchase 9.3 acres of land that will expand hospital parking.

“This property will allow us to enhance the parking spots available for patients, with more spaces being located closer to the main entrance to the hospital,” said Joe Pilon, Health Sciences North’s senior vice-president and chief operating officer, in a press release. “We will now be moving ahead with plans to build more parking spaces for our patients, visitors and employees.”

The hospital will pay $3 million to purchase the parcel of land. With the deal finalized and the land successfully rezoned, Health Sciences North will begin developing the land. It is estimated that an additional 965 parking spots will be created at the Ramsey Lake Health Centre. Site preparation work is expected to begin later this fall.

The space is also expected to help employees who currently have to park on city-owned lands south of the former St. Joseph Hospital site and at the northwest corner of Paris and York streets. Many employees have also parked at nearby Lily Creek sports complex, causing issues there.

The hospital originally tried to use a smaller piece of property to build a multi-level parking garage, but costs could have reached as much as $26 million and the plan was dropped.

“We will take a phased approach to construction to keep to at a minimum any inconvenience to patients, visitors and staff," said Pilon.